At Mind Body Therapy, we believe in providing you the highest quality care. Each of our mental health therapists offers a different area of specialization so that we can meet your unique needs. What all our therapists have in common is a warm and personable presence, an open mind, and the desire to see you thrive.
Our Approach
These values shape the way we work and how we show up in session.
Individual Attention
Steady Presence
Curiosity Before Assumption
Connection Builds Change
Meet the Team
Yakov Danishefsky
Yakov is a highly sought after therapist specializing in trauma, couples counseling, and sex addiction. He is recognized for his intuition in identifying the deeper causes and wounds that underly presenting symptoms.
Yakov focuses on Somatic Experiencing therapy together with Attachment Theory and Parts Therapy.
Many clients have remarked that after working with Yakov for one session they feel they got more than they had in years’ worth of previous therapy. As the founder and clinical direction of Mind Body Therapy, Yakov is passionate about creating a culture of individualized, dedicated, and high-quality therapy.
Jeremy (Yechiel) Bresler
Yechiel’s presence is like a steady anchor amidst a stormy sea. And he is as insightful and personable as he is calming.
Yechiel is a trauma-informed, relationship-focused therapist. He offers a deep understanding of human emotions and the power of connection. Yechiel fuses his trauma training, including EMDR and IFS, along with an attachment based approach (EFIT), to help clients heal from past wounds, navigate current challenges, and foster deep and healthy relationships.
Yechiel enjoys working with individuals, parent-child relationships, and couples.
Ethel (Etty) Gugenheim
You will be hard-pressed to find anyone more knowledgeable than Etty when it comes to eating disorders and body image struggles. She is a true guru and master of her craft working with eating disorders, anxiety, and betrayal trauma. When you meet Etty, you will find a gentle expert who is both seasoned and curious. Etty is willing to go above and beyond to help her clients achieve personal growth and emotional well-being.
Her therapeutic style fosters a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their inner world, identify blockages, and empower themselves to make meaningful changes. She draws from a variety of evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems(IFS), and EMDR. Etty also emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, acceptance, and becoming attuned to oneself and others as essential components of healing.
Etty is particularly passionate about advocating for mental health and educating others. She finds great joy in working with parents to better understand their children and improve their ability to support them. She also specializes in supporting partners of those struggling with sex addiction, self-harm, depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Mendy Goldstein
Mendy is a depth-oriented therapist who helps individuals access their innermost selves in order to promote healing and wholeness. His work is grounded in a warm, integrative approach that draws heavily from somatic modalities and Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed therapy.
As a Licensed Social Worker and Rabbi in Naperville, Mendy brings more than two decades of experience working closely with individuals and families, helping them navigate personal growth, life transitions, and relational challenges. This extensive background has cultivated a deep sensitivity to the emotional and psychological struggles people face at various stages of life.
Clients often describe Mendy as warm, empathetic, and deeply present. He takes a collaborative, client-centered approach to therapy, emphasizing attunement, curiosity, and individualized care. His goal is to create a supportive space where clients can explore their inner world, develop greater self-understanding, and embody their best selves.
Mendy works with individuals facing anxiety, addiction, stress, trauma, relationship difficulties, and the everyday challenges of living a meaningful life.
Mendy is currently completing Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1 training and is expected to complete the program in July 2026.
Abe (Nesanel) Siegal
No one creates a space of unconditional acceptance like Abe. How he does it? We’re still trying to figure out, but one way or another, there is nothing as un-shaming and cathartic as talking to Abe.
He always finds a way to see the good in people, accept people’s flaws without judgement, yet still work with them to confront and improve the areas that need attention and development.Drawing from a blend of evidence-based therapeutic approaches and insights from deep spiritual wisdom, he works collaboratively with clients to cultivate personal growth, emotional well-being, and meaningful change.
Abe emphasizes the importance of aligning one’s actions with core values, embracing discomfort as a path to transformation, and fostering a sense of connection—to oneself, to others, and to a greater purpose. His approach is compassionate, insightful, and tailored to each individual’s unique journey.
Mordecai (Matthew) Katz
Before becoming a therapist, Mordecai Katz spent years teaching high school social studies in inner-city Chicago—an experience that shaped his deep empathy and his belief in people’s capacity to grow, even in the toughest circumstances. That same commitment to others led him to open a law practice right in the neighborhood where he taught, juggling courtrooms by day and coaching the debate team by night.
Eventually, Mordecai followed his passion for helping people on a deeper level. He went back to school—yes, again—and earned master's degrees in social work, business, and divinity from the University of Chicago. He also studied Jewish philosophy and spirituality, bringing a thoughtful, well-rounded perspective to his work.
As a therapist, Mordecai blends academic rigor with real-world compassion. He's trained in trauma-informed therapy, couples counseling, ACT, IFS, EFT, and more. He’s currently earning his Level 1 IFS certification and has taught graduate-level courses on topics like psychoanalytic therapy, Jungian theory, and mental health diagnosis.
Whether you're struggling with anxiety, relationship challenges, addiction, spiritual questions, or just feeling stuck, Mordecai creates a safe, grounded space to do the work. He brings warmth, humor, and deep respect for each person's journey. Clients often say they feel truly seen, heard, and empowered after working with him.
He's been with Mind Body Therapy for over three years and continues to help people move through pain toward meaningful change.
Malka Bender
Malka Bender, LCSW, CCHt, CCTP-II, is a licensed therapist specializing in the treatment of complex trauma, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work as well as advanced certifications as a Clinical Hypnotherapist through the American Hypnosis Association and as a Certified Complex Trauma Professional, Level II.
Drawing on extensive training in experiential and relational approaches, including the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Coherence Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), and clinical hypnosis, she takes an integrative approach to therapy.
Her work is informed by affective neuroscience, memory reconsolidation research, and trauma-informed care. She understands that many of the struggles that bring people to therapy began as adaptive responses to life's challenges and experiences, often reflecting attempts to cope, protect, or make sense of difficult circumstances. Rather than viewing symptoms as problems to be eliminated, she approaches them with curiosity, helping clients make sense of the patterns that have shaped their lives.
Malka is dedicated to creating a collaborative and compassionate space grounded in safety, curiosity, and connection. Through this process, clients can cultivate greater self-compassion and resilience, reconnect with their inner strengths, and move beyond survival toward a richer, more meaningful engagement with life.
Ellie Rice
Ellie is a Ph.D. student in School Psychology at Loyola University Chicago, where she also earned her Master’s in Educational Psychology. She previously earned a Master of Science degree in Neuroscience and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a focus on the role of cognition and emotion in educational settings.
Through her work in both school and clinical settings, Ellie has collaborated closely with children, adolescents, and families, developing a strong appreciation for the importance of compassionate communication, organization, and accessible support.
In her role as Client Coordinator at Mind Body Therapy, she is excited to apply these skills to help ensure that each client’s experience, from their first point of contact through ongoing care, is welcoming, organized, and seamless.
Ellie can be reached at Clientcare@mindbodychicago.com
What makes Mind Body Therapy different isn’t just what we do. It’s how we do it.
- Personalized attention in every session
- Thoughtful, evidence-based approaches that go beyond surface solutions
- Skilled therapists with diverse training and specialties
- A strong focus on trust, emotional safety, and authentic connection
- Real results that clients often describe as “life-changing”
- We are not "rent a friend" therapy, we actually care to help you confront your challenges and get to your goals
Let's Talk About What Matters to You
Therapy begins with a simple connection. Reach out when it feels right, we’re here to listen and help you find the right next step.
